FISU Secretary General repeatedly impressed and moved by Chengdu

Eric Saintrond and FISU Director of Summer Games Jing Zhao attended the FISU World University Games Museum Donation Ceremony.

On the morning of 6 June, 2024, the FISU World University Games Museum Donation Ceremony took place at Dong’an Lake Sports Park in Chengdu. Attendees included Eric Saintrond, Secretary General and CEO of FISU; Jing Zhao, Director of FISU Summer Games; Xu Xingguo, Deputy Mayor of Chengdu; Mao Zhixiong, Executive Deputy Director of the Chengdu Government Advisory Committee; Wang Yi, Director General of the Chengdu Municipal Sports Bureau; and Qiu Xiangdong, Secretary of the CPC Longquanyi District Committee.

Eric Saintrond and Jing Zhao visited the FISU World University Games Museum, and mainly focused on the new “Global Event” Chapter, which is about the games time delivery of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Games. They showed great interest in the immersive exhibition on the opening ceremony in Chengdu, exciting events, cultural exchanges, and other exhibits.

An excellent job

Eric Saintrond flew from the headquarters of FISU in Lausanne, Switzerland. Ten months after the successful FISU Games in Chengdu, he came back again to achieve his commitment to ” add more collections for the FISU World University Games Museum.” He also added, “From my first visit to now, I see continuous improvements each time. The museum has done an excellent job, and I’m repeatedly impressed and moved by Chengdu.”

New advisory committee

After their visit, Eric Saintrond and Jing Zhao held discussions with the Vice Mayor Xu Xingguo, during which both parties agreed to cooperate and exchange for the Museum in the future. They discussed the establishment of an advisory committee and the participation in future FISU events and cultural exchanges. This collaboration aims to promote the museum, ensuring that the FISU World University Games’ heritage, culture and spirit can be preserved and celebrated.

During the Donation Ceremony, Eric Saintrond said, “For me, the construction and exhibition of the Museum have left a particularly profound impression. Every time I visit, I can find some progress and surprises. The Museum has played an important role in connecting Chengdu with the world, so FISU will fully support Chengdu in developing the museum’s construction and promote it to play even a greater role in the World University Games.”

Since the opening of the FISU World University Games Museum on July 25, 2023, over 160,000 people have visited the museum, including IOC Vice President Yu Zaiqing, Chinese basketball athlete, Yao Ming, and Ye Guangfu, Chengdu-born astronaut and the torchbearer in the opening ceremony of Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games.